Can casing machine



May 10, 1938: w. D. KIMBALLVET AL CAN GAS ING MACHINE Filed April 17', 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l M (M 4? m M WW I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 CAN CASING MACH INE "w .5 L L E h HJI 1 J Qm P I I I l I P I l Filed April 17, 1936 May 10, 1938. w. D. KIMBALL El AL May- 10,1938. w. D. KIMBALL ET AL CAN CASING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 TORS X'k, IEVEN BY /M-,M, M M

7%.. ATTORNEYS May 10, 1938. w. D. KIMBALL ET AL ,793

CAN CASING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 17, 19:56

l lNgENloRS BY 3 ,9, flM-i M f W4. ATTORNEYS Mm N m A m I NVENTORS W. D. KIMBALL ET AL CAN CASING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 k may: 7%, K 3.12 @a M @a -May 10, 1938.

Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nelius I. Braren, Jam Standard-Knapp Corporation,

aica, N. Y., assignors to Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of.New York Application Aprill'I, 1936, Serial No. 74,840

18 Claims.

This invention relates to can casing machines, that is to say, to machines which are adapted to place or pack cans, or other round containers, in shipping cases, such, for example, as cartons made of corrugated board or of other fibrous material, or in boxes or the like.

The cans are usually fed to such machines rolling on their sides in a single line coming from the labelling machine or from some other previous operation. In order to form a group of the cans into a charge suited to the size and shape of the packing case or carton, the cans from the feed line are rearranged, in a load-forming enclosure, or charge-holding frame, into a convenient number of superposed rows, each containing paratus on the principles heretofore followed in building machines for handling cans of small or moderate size and weight.

The object of the present invention is to provide a can casing machine of improved construction which may, if desired, be used for cans of r all sizes, and particularly to provide a machine which is adapted to pack large, heavy cans, such, for example, as five quart cans of lubricating oil. Such cans are from six to eight inches in diameter and from ten to twelve inches in length, and weigh in the neighborhood of ten to fifteen Pounds each.

Stating the object of the invention in a somewhat different way, it is to construct a case packing machine in such a way that the cans from the feed line are rearranged in superposed rows of the desired number of cans without damaging or marring the cans.

It is also important, under certain conditions,

to place the cans in the cases in numericalorder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a can casing apparatus which will deposit the cans in the cases in sequence so that, for example, the first group of cans in the feed line consisting of the number of cans required for a accompanying drawings which illustrate byway of example a number of embodiments of our improved can casing machine.

In these drawings:

Fig. l is a view of the machine in side elevation looking from the front, that is to say, from the side of the machine on which the operator stands and toward which the filled cartons or the filled cases are ejected;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine ofFig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view in transverse vertical section taken on the plane indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the details of the one revolution clutch for controlling the operation of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 3 illustrating details of the gate controlling mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, partially diagrammatic, showing further details of one of the gates for controlling admission of the cans to the charge-holding frame, and the gate operating mechanism;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by line l-'I of Fig. 6 showing the gate in both its raised and lowered positions;

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on Fig. 8 illustrating 8, 9 and 3, and then slid lengthwise into the carton I shown in Fig. 3 also in chain lines.

The frame of the machine comprises four upright members 2 and longitudinally extending bars 3 and 4, these bars being tied together at 66 their ends and at appropriate intermediate points by suitable cross pieces. In the space in the center of the machine below the longitudinal bars 3 is a driving motor 5 and housing 5 for a speed reducing gear and one revolution clutch to be described later. These are supported upon members 1' attached to the uprights 2.

The cans approach the machine on an inclined feed line or runway 3 at its right hand end. The load-forming enclosure, or charge-forming frame, indicated generally by 9 is at the left hand end of the machine and is adapted to contain four cans, as shown in Fig. 8. In order to deliver the cans to the charge-forming frame in two superposed rows, two runways l0 and H areprovjded. These runways consist of steel plates forming floors upon which the cans may roll. These plates have guide rails I2 and I3 along their sides for guiding the ends of the cans. These runway-s are supported near their right hand ends on upright bars I4 secured to the lower longitudinal members 3. At about their longitudinal centers these runways are supported by brackets l 5 which are pinned to vertical rods l5 attached at their upper and lower ends to the longitudinal members 4 and 3 by any suitable means, such, for example, as the brackets i1.

Runways I0 and II extend beyond the supporting rod l8 and constitute supports for the cans in the charge-holding frame 9. The guide rails l2 on the front edges of the runways terminate, as shown in Fig. l, at the entrance to the guide holding frame so as to permit the cans to be slid in the direction of their axes across the supporting plates of runways l0 and H and through the funnel l8 into the carton I, as shown in Fig. 3.

The cans are ejected fromvthe can holding frame into the carton by means of pushers l9 which are adapted to reciprocate horizontally. These pushers consist of framclike members, as shown in Fig. 2 and have faces of an appropriate length, as shown in Fig. 1. to push the cans into the carton. These faces are preferably lined with a cushioning material such. for example, as hard fiber, or rubber, to prevent the mar-ring of the cans.

Pushers l9 are secured in fixed spaced relation upon a vertical rod "constituting their support and arranged to slide horizontally between the pairs of guide bars 2| and 22. A slide 23 which fits between the guide bars 2| is mounted near the lower end of rod 20, and a slide member 24 having sufficient length to firmly hold the pushers i3 and rod against rotational movement is fixed near the upper end of rod 20. This guide member has vertical surfaces engaging the inside faces of guide rods 22, and horizontally projecting flanges shown in Fig. 2 which engage the upper faces of these guide bars and support the plunger or pusher structure as a whole.

The reciprocation of pushers I9 is accomplished by means of a crank and linkage mechanism shown to advantage in Fig. 2. The crank pin, which is indicated by 25 is mounted in the upper face of a disc 26. A connecting rod 21 joins the crank pin with the outer end of a lever arm 28 which is fixedly secured near the lower end of a vertical rod 29 which is mounted for oscillation in suitable brackets 30 which are secured to frame members 3 and 4. Adjacent the upper and lower ends of rod 28 are mounted swinging arms The crank disc 25 is mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 35 which is vertically mounted within the housing 5, and the driving mechanismfor this shaft comprises the reducing gear and one way clutch mechanism illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. The horizontal driving shaft 35 of this mechanism is connected in any suitable manner, as by means of the gearing shown in Fig. 1. to driving motor 5. The speed reducing gear consists of a worm 31 which drives a worm gear 38. Mounted adjacent worm gear 38 and arranged to rotate therewith is a toothed wheel 38. Gear 33 and toothed wheel 39 are mounted loosely on vertical shaft 35 and rotate continuously so long as motor 5 is energized.

Mounted in fixed relation to shaft 35 is an arm 40 which projects from a hub 4i, and near the outer end of this arm a dog 42 is pivoted at 43. This dog has a nose at its outer end which is adapted to enter between the teeth of toothed wheel 39 and cause the shaft 35 to be driven thereby. A spring 44 biases the nose of the dog toward the toothed wheel. Dog 42 has a tall 45 which, when shaft 35 is stationary, is engaged by pawl 46 pivoted at 41 and actuated by a rod 48 which is attached to a pedal not shown) arranged in a convenient position for the operator near the front ofthe machine.

When the operator depresses the pedal, the outer end of pawl 46 is pulled downwardly, releasing the tail 45 and allowing spring 44 to pull the dog into engagement with toothed wheel 39. If the operator releases the pedal immediately after depressing it, shaft 35 will make one revolution only, and will be stopped abruptly as soon as the tall 45 again engages the end of pawl 46. This not only removes the dog from engagement with toothed wheel 39, but forcibly stops the rotation of arm 40 and shaft 35.

It will be understood that whenever the operator is ready to have a charge of cans ejected into a case such as the carton I, he presses down the pedal as above described and shaft 35 and crank pin 25 are caused to make a single revolution. This causes plungers l9 to move forward from the position shown in Fig. 3 and engage the ends of the cans in the load-forming enclosure 9 and slide them into the carton. Upon the return stroke of pushers l9 they will be stopped in the position shown in Fig. 3.

The abrupt stopping of the rotation of the crank disc and shaft 35 by the engagement of pawl 46 with the tail of dog 42, as above described, prevents the overruning of the crank disc which might advance the ends of pushers I9 into the path of the next charge of cans'as they roll into the charge-holding frame from runways Ill and il under the control of the gate mechanism which will be described presently. On account of the abrupt stopping of the rotation of shaft 35 and its connected parts, there is a tendency for the arm 40 to rebound after engagement of the tall 45 of the dog ,with the end of the pawl 46. As this might cause the backward rotation of the crank disc 26 far enough to move pushers 19 into the path of the oncoming cans, a second arm 49 is provided on hub 4| approximately opposite arm 40. The end of this arm has a rounded forward corner anda sharp rearward corner. Coacting. with this arm is a spring pressed pawl 50 having a shoulder which snaps into engagement with the-sharp rear corner of the end of arm 49 at approximately the same instant that the engagement of tall 45 engages the end of pawl 46 and releases pawl 42. When shaft II is stopped it is therefore locked against movement in either direction, and it is impossible for pushers I! to be left in the path of the oncoming cans.

It will be understood that if the operator replaces carton l with successive cartons with suftlcient rapidity, there is no necessity for the reciprocation of pushers ill to be interrupted. It will be understood that by keeping the pedal depressed and pawl 46 withdrawn out of the path of tail l5, shaft will rotate continuously.

In order to facilitate the placing of cartons over the funnel structure I6, this structure is provided with two tapering sides 5| and 52 constructed of flexible resilient material to permit.

them to be flattened out between the sides of the cans and the walls of the carton as the cans are pushed forwardly. The two opposite sides of the funnel structure, however, shown at 53 and 56 in Fig. 1 are substantially rigid and parallel to the path of travel of the cans as they slide into the carton.

The cartons are supported on their side during the ejection of the cans into them by means of a support 55 preferably provided with rollers, as indicated in Fig. 2. The operator during the ejecting operation stands directly in front of the funnel and receives the loaded carton with his hands as it is pushed forward by the charge of cans, and he lowers and turns the carton as it moves over the support 55 and eases it into upi right position onto a suitable support which is usually a travelling conveyor which carries the filled carton to a carton flap-closing, gluing and sealing machine.

The admission of the cans from the cans stored in the storage runways l0 and I i into the chargeholding frame 6 is controlled by gates indicated generally by 56 and 51. In Fig. 1 these gates are in the raised position allowing the cans in the storage runways to advance into the load-forming enclosure. In Fig. 8 the gates are in the lowered position where they engage the first can in each row outside of the charge-holding frame and prevent the advance of the cans. When the pushers I! are at the back end of their stroke, as shownin Fig. 9, gates 56 and 51 are raised, and as soon as the pushers commence to move on their forward stroke the gates are lowered, and remain in lowered position until the plungers l9, on their return stroke clear the path of the cans. This gate mechanism will now be described:

Gates 56 and 51 are identical in construction. Each consists of a thin, fiat strip, or blade 56 (see Figs. 6 and '1) extending across the runway and supported at each end by arms 59 pivoted at 66 to a bracket 6| which is mounted upon the machine frame. Brackets 6i are of such a length as to position' pivots 66 about midway between the surface of the runway and the top side of the can as it rolls along the runway, for a purpose which will appear later on. In order to reduce to a minimum the necessary movement of arms 56 i from open to closed position, blades 56 are turned or "feathered" as the gates are moved upward from the closed to open position.

For this reason the blades are pivotally mounted on the ends of arms 59, as shown in Fig. '1, and are provided at each end with a cam 62. The cams of gate 51 engage the lower surface of the plate or runway Ii, while the cams of gate 56 engage the lower surface of a guard plate 63 which is provided to define the upper limits of the load forming enclosure 5. The pivot mountings of blade 56 and cams 62 are carried by small blocks 56' which have rounded stems that are slidably received in the ends of arms 56 and are provided with springs (not shown) which resist the outward movement of the stems. Cushioning means is thus provided allowing the cans which are in contact with the gates to move forward slightly as succeeding cans roll against them.

In order to'actuate the gates the gates supporting arms 59 are provided with short extensions 66 to each of which an actuating block 65.

is pivoted. The actuating blocks of both gates 56 and 51 on the front side of the machine are received within a vertical channeled actuating member 66 and the actuating blocks 65 at the rear of the machine are engaged by channeled actuating member 61. These channeled actuating members 66 and 61 are arranged to be oscillated a small distance longitudinally of the machine in timed relation to the operation of the plunger, as will be presently explained, and this movement rocks the projection 64 and arms 66 about their pivot 66, thereby lowering or raising the gates 56 and 51.

The two channeled actuating members 66 and 61 are each bifurcated at their lower ends to provide two short parallel arms 68. These arms of member 66 are fixed to a short shaft 66 and the corresponding arms of member 61 are fixed to a short vertical shaft 10. These short shafts 69 and 10 aremounted for rotation in the bifur cated arm 1| (see Fig. 8) of a bracket 12 which is bolted to a cross piece 13, as shown in Fig. 5, which in turn is mounted upon the lower side bars 3 of the machine frame.

Shafts 69 and 16 extend below the lower bifurcated arm 1| of bracket 12, as may be-seen in Figs. 8 and 3, and fixed to the lower ends of these shafts are a pair of narrow coasting gear sectors 16 which cause the channeled actuating members 66 and 61 to move in unison. The movement of these members 66 and 61 in one direction is produced by means of helical springs 15 and 16, as shown in Fig. 2, one of which is at tached to member 66 and the other to member 61. These springs cause the channeled actuating members 66 and 61 to be moved against adjustable stops 11 (see Fig. l) and 18 (see Fig. 2).

Movement of channeled actuating members 66 and 61 in the opposite direction is accomplished by means of a cam 19 formed on the peripheral surface of crank disc 26. This cam surface coacts with a cam follower roller 66 mounted on the end of a crooked arm 8i, which for a distance lies substantially parallel to disc 26, and then turns upwardly, as shown in Fig. 1 and is fixed to the lower end of short shaft 69.

As crank disc 26 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, and as the channeled actuating members 66 and 61 are shown in this figure in position to raise the gates 56 and 51 to open position, soon after the crank disc commences its rotation after the clutch shown in Fig. 4 is released, the formation of cam 19 will cause arm 6| to move inwardly, thereby causing channeled arms 66 and 61 to oscillate simultaneously to the left, thus closing the gates. The gates will remain closed until crank disc 26 has made approximately revolution, and then will again gradually open. 1

The machine is provided with mechanism for causing the group of cans in the can holding frame 9 to be separated from the cans stored in the runways ill and ii. This comprises movable stops 62 which are mounted at the left hand side of the can holding frame 9. Stops 62 arrest the forward movement of the cans when they advance into the load-forming enclosure, and simultaneously with the descent of gates 58 and IT to closed position, these stops are arranged to recede slightly to the left so as to allow the four cans in the charge-holding frame to move away from the cans in runways l0 and II which are held back by the gates.

For this purpose, stops 82 are mounted on two spaced parallel rods 88. These rods are pivotally carried at both their lower and upper ends on pairs of pivoted arms 94. These arms'are also mounted on vertical rods 95 so that the arrangement constitutes a parallelogram mounting for the stops 8! so that the faces of these stops are maintained in all positions at right angles to the path of movement of the cans.

For the purpose of causing stops 82 to recede just before the pushers l9 engage the ends of the cans, a short arm 96 is mounted on the lower end of one of the rods 85, and a link 91 is pivoted to the end of this arm. The opposite end of link 91 is pivotally connected to one of the short parallel arms 69 at the lower portion of channeled actuating member 61 on the rear side of the machine.

In order to avoid undue stress on the gates 59 and 51 and their operating mechanism, it is desirable that the movement of the gates toward closed position shall not move the cans in the storage runways Ill and H backwards. Also the gates must make contact with the cans immediately beneath them before stops '82 recede an appreciable distance, for otherwise the cans in the storage runways would move forward with the cans in the load-forming enclosure or canholding frame. Inasmuch as the gates and the can stops are actuated by means of a single cam,

that is, cam 19, this presents something of a problem. The solution of this problem is accomplished by the mounting of the pivots 60 of the gate supporting arms 59 (see Fig. '7) approximately midway of the vertical diameter of the cans and causing the pivots to approximately coincide with the center of the can which is to be engaged by the gate. With this arrangement, when each of the gates moves downwardly toward closed position, the inner surface of its blade rotates along the surface of a cylinder which ap-- proximately coincides with the surface of the can beneath the gate. Hence the downward motion of the blade, after making contact with the surface of the can, is a mere sliding motion arourid the can which does not impart any appreciable motion to the can,

As mentioned at the beginning of the description, the cans are received by the machine from can feed line 9 which usually conveys the cans by gravity from a labelling machine to the case packing machine. Feed line 8 is in allnement storage runways of the machine. The machine may be so arranged that the cans from the feed line are fed to the lower storage runway, to the upper storage runway, or in the case of a ma chine provided with three runways to the intermediate runway. In the form of our invention shown in Fig. 8, the feed line 9 is in alinement with the lower storage runway Ill, and elevating mechanism is provided for separating and elevating to the storage runway II a group of cans corresponding to the number of cans in the upper row of the charge-holding frame, in this case, two cans. The elevating mechanism is actuated in timed relation to the operation of the pushers time the pushers return to their original posi- I tion, the elevating mechanism has also returned to its lowermost position in alinement with the runway I.

As shown in Figs. 1,2 and 8, this elevating or transferring mechanism includes a short platform 99 comprising a section of runway similar to runways Ill and II and mounted between the right hand end of the lower runway Ill and the discharge end of the feed conveyor 9. This elevating platform "is provided in each side of the machine with vertical supporting bars 99. For controlling the movement of the elevating device a parallelogram linkage mechanism is provided which comprises two pairs of arms 99 and 9| pivoted at their right hand ends to the uprights veyor l, as it is raised to lift a group of two cans,

as shown in Fig. 8, and dischargethem on the upper runway ll. g

For the purpose of raising and lowering the elevating device ll intimed relation to the operation of pushers I9, 9. bar 93 is mounted for sliding movement beneath the runway ID. The forward end of this bar is supported on cross piece 94 which extends between upright bars ll. A guiding bearing on this cross piece is furnished by means of a strap 95. In order to support the rear portion of bar 93 a pair of uprights 99 are bolted to the lower frame bars 3, as shown in Fig. 8, and a cross piece 91 lsmounted between the lower portions of these uprights. -A second strap 99 forms the guiding'bearing.

0n the lower side of this sliding bar 93 there is bolted a cam member 91 havinga closed cam slot Hill which is arranged to engage a roller Hll which is pivotally mounted on one of the lower arms 9| of the parallelogram linkage. Hence, as the bar 93 is moved to the left, the elevating platform 99 will be raised, and when the bar is moved in the opposite direction the platform will be lowered.

The reciprocation of actuating bar 93 is accomleft hand end of the bar with a lever arm I03,v

which is fixed to the lower end of shaft 29 which carries arms 3| for actuating pushers l9. It will be remembered that shaft 19 is oscillated for actuating the pushers by means of the crank pin 25 on disc 38.

The position and the shape of cam groove I00 are such that during about the first of the revolution of the crank pin 25, elevating platform 89 remains in its lowered position in alinement with feed line 8 and runway l0. During this period, pushers l9 have advanced into contact with the ends of the cans and have begun to shove them toward the funnel l8.

When the machine is first placed in operation cans for the next succeeding charge are also placed on upper runway II adjacent gate 58. During the period that platform 88 is in alinement with runway I 0, two cans will advance from the feed line 8 onto the elevating platform. As the crank disc 26 continues to revolve, the sloping portion of cam slot I will engage roller IM and lift the elevating platform 8. By the time the crank pin has rotated about 180 from its original position, thereby carrying pushers I9 to the end of their outward stroke, platform 88 has reached a position even with the upper runway II and the two cans thereon roll forward against the two cans already on 'this runway.

During the further rotation of crank disc 26, platform 88 is lowered back to its original position in alinement with runway I0, and two more cans from runway 8 roll forward onto platform 88. Soon after the ends of plungers I9 have been withdrawn on their inward stroke out of the path of the cams in runways I0 and II, as shown in Fig. 3, the gates 56 and 51 are raised by the mechanism previously described, thereby permitting the rows of cans in runways I0 and 'I I to advance until the foremost can of each row is in contact with the stops 82, thus bringing a second charge of cans into the charge-holding frame 9.

By always having a full charge of cans on runway II as well as on runway I0 at the time of the opening of gates 58 and 51, the chargeholding frame will be filled promptly and the pushers II! can again move forward without delay.

During the time that the platform 88 is elevated out of its lowermost position, it is necessary to hold back the cans on feed line 8. There are different ways of holding these cans back, one of which is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8. As here shown, an auxiliary gate I04 is provided which consists of a metal bar extending cros'swise of runway 8 and supported at each end by arms I05 which are fixed to the opposite ends of a cross shaft I 06 which is mounted at the upper ends of the uprights 98. On the front end of this shaft is mounted a lever arm I01 to which a link I08 is connected. The opposite end of this link is pivoted at I09 to the channeled actuating member 68. As stated previously, this channeled actuating member 66 is oscillated from right to left, as shown in Fig. 2 when crank pin 25 commences its rotation. Hence, simultaneously with the lowering of gates 56 and 51 to closed position, and the retraction of stops 82, auxiliary gate I04 is also lowered. In this lowered position, gate I04 is in contact with the first can in feed line 8 aheadof platform 88.

In order to reduce the wear on the cam slot I00 and other parts of the machine, and also for the purpose of reducing the load on the driving motor 5 to a minimum, means are provided in our improved machine for counterbalancing the weight of elevating platform 88, its connected parts and the cans thereon. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, this counterbalancing means comprises a pair of longhelical springs I'I0, one on each side of the machine. These springs are attached at their upper ends to hooks III which are attached to the uprights 98. At their lower ends, springs I I0 are secured to extensions I I2 of a cross structure shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 for tying together the lower ends of supporting bars 89 of the elevating device.

In the modified form of our invention shown in Fig. 9, the feed line 8a, instead of being in line with the lower runway I03, as in the form of machine previously described, is in line with the upper runway Ila. The elevating platform 88a is,

therefore arranged to lower instead of raise a group of cans, in this case, two, from the upper runwafy to the lower runway in timed relation to the operation of the pushers for pushing the charge of cans in the load-forming enclosure 9a into the carton. All parts of the modification shown in Fig. 9 are constructed like those shown in Figs. 8, 1 and 2, except for the fact that the cam slot I003 is reversed in its position, as may be seen from comparing Figs. 8 and 9, so as to cause the lowering of the platform during theadvance of the pushers instead of the raising of the platform.

In the modified form of our improved packing machine shown in Fig. 10, the charge of cans consists of three superposed rows, and the feed line 8b is arranged in line with the intermediate or central runway of the three runways I I3, i I4 and I I5. A double transferring device is employed arranged to elevate one group of cans forming a complete row of the charge and delivering it to the upper runway H5, and simultaneously lowering a second group of cans from feed line 8b and delivering it to the lowermost runway II3. This machine is arranged to handle cans of somewhat smaller diameter than the machine shown in the other figures of the drawings, and there are four cans in each row instead of three. It will be understood. however, that the machine is adapted to work equally well with cans of both smaller and larger diameter than those indicated in Fig. 10, and any desired number of cans may be arranged in each row of the charge.

In the machine of Fig. 10, the pushers H6 are mounted and operated in a similar manner to the pushers IS, the only difference being that there are three pushers instead of two. The same is true of the gates Ill and the can stops II8. Almost any desired number of can stops can be actuated simultaneously by the channeled actuating members 66 and B'I.

The double transfer mechanism comprises an elevating device or platform H9 and a lowering device or platform I20. Each of these platforms has an understructure similar to the understructure of elevating platform 88 and consisting of a pair of uprights I 2| and I22, respectively. When in their normal position, both of the platforms I I9 and I20 are in alinement with each other, with the feed line 8b and with the intermediate storage runway II 4, and the platforms are adjacent one another and form a bridge for conveying cans from the feed line 8b to the runway H4.

. Midway between the two transferring devices, as shownin Fig. 10, there are two horizontal shafts I23 and I24 which are pivotally mounted in the frame structure of the can casing machine. Fixedly mounted on shaft I23 is a pair of spaced arms I25 extending equal distances on either side of the shaft I23 and pivoted at their ends to the spaced uprights I2I and I22, respectively. Shaft I24 is provided with similar arms I26 which are pivoted in a similar manner to these uprights so that the structure as a whole forms a double parallelogram linkage in which the weight of the elevating device I I9 with its load of cans is substantially equally balanced by the weight of the lowering device I20 together with its cans.

The double transferring mechanism is operated by means of a reciprocating rod 91b which is similar to rod 91, although somewhat longer, arid which is reciprocated by means similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 8. The cam member 99b is provided with a cam slot which is very similar to the cam slot I00. and which coacts with a roller II! 'b pivotally mounted on the side of one of arms I26.

A different form of mechanism for holding,

parallel to the floor of the feed conveyor and slightly spaced above the tops of the cans.

In the machine of Fig. 10, the distance between gate III of the middle storage runway ill and the end. of the first transfer conveyor I20 is chosen so asto accommodate the same number of cans which constitutes a row of the charge, in this instance, four cans. Alternatively the length of this storage runway can be made to contain any multiple of the number of cans required to form a row or layer of the charge. It will be understood also that the machine shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9 can also Deconstructed in this manner, if desired. When so constructed, the cans will be packed by the casing machines in the successive cartons in sequence. That is to say, referring to the machine of Fig. 10, the first 12 cans to enter the machine from the feed line 8b will be packed in the first carton placed upon the funnel of the machine, the second 12 cans in the second carton and so on. In this way, if the cans are serially numbered, .as is desired in certain instances, the numbers of the cans in each carton may, if desired, be stamped upon the carton as it is packed. Alternatively, if, at the commencement of packing of a particular batch of serially numbered cans, the cases or cartons are also serially numbered, the numbers of the cans which are contained in any particular carton can be readily ascertained after the carton is sealed without opening the carton. A

In the machines herein describedfthe groups of cans to form additional'layers or rows in the charge are bodilytransferred from the feed line to the superposed row, or rows, instead of permitting the cans to roll individually through some form of guide device, as in the case packing machines as heretofore constructed. By bodily transferring the cans in groups, cans of considerably larger diameter and weight than heretofore can be operated on and placed in cartons by our improved machine without fear of denting or otherwise damaging the cans. The speed of operation, that is, the rapidity with which cases can be packed, is as high or higher than the speed of operation of the former machines in packing smaller cans. The mechanism which we have provided for operating the packing pushers, the

gate mechanism, the can stops and the transfer,

conveyors is simple, not apt to get out of order, and occupies little space. of compactness is in no small degree brought about by the crank and cam arrangement which we employ.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of our improved machines without 1 departing from the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is set forth'in the appended claims:

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving at least two This desirable feature.

'force to the cans tending to cause them to roll.

2. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving at least two superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cansin said frame into the case, two conveyors ,along which the cans move by gravity leading to the respective rows of said frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, means for bodily transferring as a group a plurality of cans from said feed conveyor to said other conveyor while maintaining substantially constant the application of gravitational force to the cans tending to cause them to roll, and means actuated in timed relation to said transferring means for preventing the forward 3. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving at least two superposed rows of cans each consisting of a predetermined number of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, two conveyors along which the cans move by gravity leading to the respective rows of said frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, and means operated in timed relation to the advance of said plunger for simultaneously displacing to substantially the same extent and in an approximately vertical direction from said feed conveyor to said other conveyor a plurality of'cans in number corresponding tothe cans in a single row within the charge-holding frame. I

4. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans each consisting of a predetermined number of cans and from which the cans can 'be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors leading to the respective rows of said frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, and means operated in timed relation to the advance of said plunger for elevating from the feedconveyor to one of said other conveyors a plurality of cans equal in numher to those contained in .a single row within the said conveyors, and means operated in timed relation to the advance of said plunger for lowering from thefeedconveyor to one of said other con- ,veyors a plurality of cans equal in number to those contained in a single row in the chargeholding frame while maintaining substantially constant the application of gravitational force to the cans tending to cause them to roll.

6. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans each consisting of a predetermined number of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors leading to the respective rows of said frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, means operated in timed relation to the advance of said plunger for elevating from the feed conveyor to one of said other conveyors a plurality of cans equal in number to those contained in a single row within the chargeholding frame, and means also operated in timed relation to tl..e advance of said plunger for lowering from the feed conveyor to another of said conveyors a plurality of cans equal in number to those contained in a single row in the chargeholdlng frame.

'7. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans each consisting of a predetermined number of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors leading to the respective rows of said frame. a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors. and means operated in timed relation to the advance of said plunger for elevating a group of cans from the feed conveyor to one of said other conveyors and simultaneously lowering a" second group of cans from the feed conveyor to another of said conveyors, each of said groups of cans being equal in number to those contained in a single row within the chargeholding frame.

8. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case. a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case. conveyors leading to the respective rows of said chargeholding frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, and a vertically reciprocating transfer conveyor for transferring cans from the feed conveyor to each of the remaining conveyors.

9. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plural ty of superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case. conveyors leading to the respective rows of said frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, a vertically reciprocating transfer conveyor for elevating a group of cans from said feed conveyor to one of said conveyors, a second vertically reciprocating transfer conveyor for lowering a group of cans from said feed conveyor to another of said conveyors, and means for supporting and operating said transfer conveyors whereby the weight of one of said transfer conveyors substantially balances the weight of the other.

10. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors leading to the respective rows of said frame, a can feed conveyor, and a vertically reciprocating transfer conveyor for transferring for transferring cans from the feed conveyor to said second conveyor.

12. In a can casing machine. the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors along which the cans move by gravity leading to the respective rows of the charge-holding frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, means for bodily transferring as a group a plurality of cans from said feed to said other conveyor or conveyors while maintaining substantially constant the applicat on of gravitational force to the cans tending to cause them to roll, gate mechanism for controlling the entrance of the cans from said conveyors to the charge holding frame, gate mechanism for controlling the advance of the cans in the can feed conveyor, and means for operating said gate mechanisms in timed relation to said plunger.

13. In a can casingmachine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into acase, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors along which the cans move by gravity leading to the respective rows of the charge-holding frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, means for bodily transferring as a group a plurality of cans from said feed to said other conveyor or conveyors, while maintaining substantially constant the application of gravitational force to the cans tending to cause them to roll, gate mechanism for controlling the advance of the cans in said superposed conveyors, into the charge-holding frame, gate mechanism for holding back cans in t1e feed conveyor during the operation of said can transferring means, and means for actuating said respective gate mechanisms simultaneously.

14. In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors along which the cans move by gravity leading to the respective rows of the charge-holding frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, means for bodily transferring as a groupa plurality of cans from said feed to said other conveyor or conveye ors while maintaining substantially constant the application of gravitational forceto the cans tending to cause them to roll, and means for actuating said transferring means comprising a bar adapted to be reciprocated in timed relation to the operation of said plunger, and cam means operatively connecting said reciprocating bar with said transferring means.

In a can casing machine the combination of a charge-holding frame for receiving a plurality oi superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors leading to the respective rows 01 said charge-holding frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, a verof said charge-holding-irame', a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, a vertically reciprocating transfer conveyor for transierring cans from the feed conveyor to each 01' the remaining conveyors, parallelogram-linkage supporting means for said conveyor, a substantially horizontally reciprocating bar arranged to reciprocate in timed relation to the advance of said plunger, and cam means operatively connecting said bar and said parallelogram-linkage Patent No 2,116,795

supporting means to cause the actuation of said transfer conveyor.

1'1. In a can casing machine the combination WALLACE D. KmBALL, ET AL.

CERTIFICATE or. CORRECTION.

of a charge-holding frame (or receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors leading to the respective rows of said charge-holding frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, a vertically reciprocating transfer conveyor for transi'erring cans from the feed conveyor to each 01 the remaining conveyors, and means for at least in part counterbalancing said vertically reciprocating conveyor.

18. In a can handling machine, a can runway and a gate mechanism associated therewith comprising a pivoted supporting arm and a can engaging blade member pivoted thereto, said supporting arm being pivoted above the centers 01' the cans rolling on the runway and the blade member including cam means for feathering the blade on its upward stroke, and means associated with said runway for engaging said cam means whereby in the raised position of the gate mechanism the blade is feathered substantially into parallelism with the runway and in its lowered position the flat side oi the blade engages the surface of the adjacent can on the runwayabove the horizontal diameter thereof.

WALLACE D. KIMBALL. CORNELIUS I. BRAREN.

May 10, 19 3.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of'the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6, second column, lines 55 and 56, claim 5, strikeout the words along which the cams move by gravity"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conformto' the record of the ease. in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 28th day or June, A. D. 1958.

.- Henry Van Arsdale,

,Acting Commissioner oi Patents. A

rality oi superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors leading to the respective rows 01 said charge-holding frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, a verof said charge-holding-irame', a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, a vertically reciprocating transfer conveyor for transierring cans from the feed conveyor to each 01' the remaining conveyors, parallelogram-linkage supporting means for said conveyor, a substantially horizontally reciprocating bar arranged to reciprocate in timed relation to the advance of said plunger, and cam means operatively connecting said bar and said parallelogram-linkage Patent No 2,116,795

supporting means to cause the actuation of said transfer conveyor.

1'1. In a can casing machine the combination WALLACE D. KmBALL, ET AL.

CERTIFICATE or. CORRECTION.

of a charge-holding frame (or receiving a plurality of superposed rows of cans and from which the cans can be ejected into a case, a plunger for pushing a charge of cans in said frame into the case, conveyors leading to the respective rows of said charge-holding frame, a can feed conveyor connected to one of said conveyors, a vertically reciprocating transfer conveyor for transi'erring cans from the feed conveyor to each 01 the remaining conveyors, and means for at least in part counterbalancing said vertically reciprocating conveyor.

18. In a can handling machine, a can runway and a gate mechanism associated therewith comprising a pivoted supporting arm and a can engaging blade member pivoted thereto, said supporting arm being pivoted above the centers 01' the cans rolling on the runway and the blade member including cam means for feathering the blade on its upward stroke, and means associated with said runway for engaging said cam means whereby in the raised position of the gate mechanism the blade is feathered substantially into parallelism with the runway and in its lowered position the flat side oi the blade engages the surface of the adjacent can on the runwayabove the horizontal diameter thereof.

WALLACE D. KIMBALL. CORNELIUS I. BRAREN.

May 10, 19 3.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of'the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6, second column, lines 55 and 56, claim 5, strikeout the words along which the cams move by gravity"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conformto' the record of the ease. in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 28th day or June, A. D. 1958.

.- Henry Van Arsdale,

,Acting Commissioner oi Patents. A 

